title: A content analysis of tobacco control policy in the U.S. Department of Defense.
abstract: We conducted a content analysis of the US military tobacco policies at the Department of Defense, each respective military service (Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps), and their Major Commands (MAJCOM). Ninety-seven policies were evaluated using the Military Tobacco Policy Rating Form (MTPRF). More than three quarters addressed the following domains: (1) deleterious health effects of tobacco use; (2) environmental tobacco smoke; (3) designation of smoking areas; (4) tobacco prevention/cessation programs; and (5) smokeless tobacco. Few policies (2.1 per cent) mentioned relevant Department of Defense and respective service tobacco use prevalence statistics. Smoking as non-normative or incompatible with military service, the impact of tobacco use on military readiness, and the tobacco industry were addressed infrequently (6.2 per cent, 33.0 per cent, and 8.2 per cent, respectively). Future military tobacco policies should address important omissions of critical information such as the current service tobacco use prevalence, effects on readiness, and smoking as non-normative.
authors.affiliation: Hoffman & Associates, Florida, USA. kevinhoffman1@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Walker S C
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Poston
authors.forename: Nattinee
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jitnarin
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jahnke
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hughey
authors.forename: Harry A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Lando
authors.forename: Larry N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haddock
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless; D014481:United States; D059030:United States Department of Defense / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution